National Assembly Committee Considers Voluntary Drug Screening and Defers Key Legislation
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control convened a significant meeting on Tuesday, addressing a range of legislative proposals, including calls for voluntary drug screening in educational institutions across Islamabad. The session, held at the Parliament House in Islamabad, was chaired by Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, MNA, and focused on several government bills with broad implications for policy and governance.
Deferred Bills on Criminal Procedure and Local Government
The Committee began by examining the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a government-sponsored initiative. Due to pending input from relevant stakeholders, the body decided to defer consideration of this bill to a subsequent meeting, emphasizing the need for comprehensive review. Similarly, the Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was taken up and deferred, with directions issued to the Ministry of Law and Justice to present a consolidated version in a future session, highlighting the complexity of local governance reforms.
Citizenship Bill Sparks Debate on Rights and Policy
In a notable discussion, the Committee considered the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025, moved by Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan, MNA. The mover highlighted the severe difficulties faced by certain communities whose unresolved citizenship status has led to denial of basic rights and essential services. Members acknowledged the seriousness and sensitivity of this issue, noting that citizenship policy involves intricate political, legal, and security considerations. The Ministry clarified that any changes to citizenship thresholds require high-level political consensus. Consequently, the Committee deferred the bill and directed that the matter be taken up with the government and political leadership for broader consultation, underscoring the need for inclusive dialogue.
Approval for Senior Citizens Bill with Amendments
The Committee then reviewed the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposed by Dr. Sharmila Faruqui, MNA. This bill aimed to simplify procedures by allowing senior citizens to avail concessions using a valid CNIC instead of a separate senior citizen card. Appreciating the intent to reduce hardship for elderly citizens, the Committee approved the bill with amendments, subject to the Ministry's assurance that requisite rules would be framed within six months, demonstrating a commitment to practical welfare measures.
Voluntary Drug Screening Proposal Fails to Gain Traction
A key agenda item was the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2025, moved by Ms. Sehar Kamran, MNA, which proposed voluntary drug screening in educational institutions. Members engaged in detailed discussions, raising concerns about data confidentiality, constitutional limits, and jurisdictional issues related to the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Representatives from the Anti-Narcotics Force clarified that their mandate does not extend to counselling or medical screening. While recognizing the growing problem of drug abuse among students, the Committee concluded that the proposal lacked an adequate rehabilitation and policy framework in its current form. Therefore, it recommended that the bill not be passed by the National Assembly and advised exploring alternative policy and legislative measures through appropriate forums, reflecting a cautious approach to sensitive health and education matters.
Directives on Land Compensation and Future Actions
Additionally, the Committee directed the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit a comprehensive report within one week on delays in compensation payments to landowners whose land was acquired in Sectors E-12, C-13, C-14, C-15, C-16, and H-16 of Islamabad. This move aims to address longstanding grievances and ensure timely resolution of land-related disputes, highlighting the Committee's oversight role in administrative accountability.
Overall, the meeting underscored the Committee's diligent approach to legislative review, balancing urgency with thorough deliberation on issues ranging from public health to citizenship rights.
